The driveway looped into a large courtyard and directly in front of a large wooden blue door. Luke pulled the black sedan in front of the door and cut the engine. He nudged Lille's shoulder. "Hey, wake up. We're here."
Lille woke with a yawn and undid her seatbelt, sliding slowly from the seat. Aaron helped Luke with the food, splitting the bags of food and trays of cups between them.
"I don't have anything aside from what I have on. I'm not sure what to do." Aaron commented. "Am I stuck or is there a way for me to get something later?"
Lille hobbled towards the door. "We have you covered. There are some clothes that'll fit you, if that doesn't work, we can order some new ones."
Aaron followed her towards the door. "I'm paying for it in trade?"
"Eh, if you want to think about it like that. It's not like you can go home. Your organization is probably watching your credit cards to figure out where you went, so it's safer for you and Lille if you let us handle it." Luke pushed ahead, balancing what was in his hands to unlock the front door, pushing it open for the others to enter.
The foyer opened to hardwood floors, flowing into a large furnished living room to the left and a large kitchen to the right with a staircase in the middle. Luke led the way to the living room, setting the bags of food down on the large glass coffee table and settling down in the left large black leather armchair, opposite a second one on the other side of a plush black leather couch. He picked up the remote to the big screen television mounted on the wall over a gray brick fireplace. He flipped through the channels and settled on a stand up comedian.
Lille flopped onto the left side of the couch with the arm rest, leaving up to Aaron to decide to sit on the couch with her or to go to the other arm chair. With the food in the center of the coffee table, Aaron sat in the middle of the couch. It made the most sense to him and kept him close to both Luke and Lille.
Dinner progressed quickly. Aaron couldn't remember ever eating. The sensation of chewing, tasting and the explosion of flavors were far more fascinating in the moment than talking. It was cheap, sugary, and greasy but for something not accustomed to eating, it was divine.
Lille watched Aaron with idle curiosity, watching Luke out of a corner of her eye. Aaron noticed that Luke's fingers lightly brushed against Lillie's more than once. His hunch had been right regarding attraction. He wondered if either had acted on it.
When the food was devoured, Luke excused himself to patrol the perimeter. Once the door clicked closed, Aaron earnestly looked at Lille. "You didn't answer my question from earlier."
Lille sipped her soda through the straw, not looking at Aaron. Her eyes were on the television. "I have dreams sometimes of places and things but I don't know more than that."
"Do you understand what I really am?" Aaron was delighted, sitting up straighter in expectation.
"... the ritual named you Mayrion, a demon that calls the void." Lille replied thoughtfully, turning her attention towards him. "I have never felt any hostility from you. You never tempted me."
Aaron smiled. "I belong to you."
Lille blushed as she stared at Aaron. "What do you mean by that?"
He pressed his hand against his temple in frustration at her reaction. "We, you- in a past life made a deal. Together we'd destroy your enemies and bring you and yours prosperity."
"What did you get from it?"
"Freedom from the abyss."
"Hell?"
"No. The abyss is much worse because you experience total deprivation but you are still awake." Aaron shook his head. He shivered at the memory of the centuries he spent in the void. "You can't sleep or shut your eyes to ignore the nothingness. It gnaws at you and rots away your concept of self."
"What's with the title then?"
"I was an angel once. My purpose was destruction and justice. As a fallen, I still destroy and bring vengeance. I can call the darkness of the void but... if you did, I return to being imprisoned in that same nothingness."
Liile's expression was contemplative. "What was your intention with me? I was just a little girl ."
"To protect you until you could achieve your glory in this life." Aaron pressed her hands together. "You never asked for immortality. But if you die, I disappear. I've never had a body like this before."
"You want me to be immortal?" Lille blinked, setting her cup down.
"Yes. Or we'll figure out a way to do research and pass it to your next life. There are more options now than before." Aaron cheerfully suggested. "Your job just makes it harder for me but I'm back! I can protect you until we figure something out."
"What makes you think that I want to be protected?" Lille frowned.
"It's not a matter of you not being capable. You're still human, even if you can use magic. You still get hurt and you can still die." Aaron pointed to her cane. "Besides, you've already bound me to you. I belong to you. I'm here to help you, not hinder you. If you die, I go screaming back into the abyss, body-less, voice-less, to stew until your soul reincarnates again. I don't have many limitations as a demon."
Lille tapped her chin. "Why are you interested in Luke?"
"If he's your lover, I can extend my reach to guard him as well. Part of our contract is to enable you to take all that your desire. He already desires you, so it's easier to just... keep him alive than it is to twist his emotions into an obsession for you." Aaron replied with a shrug.
Lille wrinkled her nose. "We're not lovers, not right now. It's complicated. We've been on and off. Our line of work makes maintaining relationships difficult because of the uncertainty of when we'll have to go and then we can't discuss that part of our lives."
"If he works for the same company, doesn't that make him the best candidate? You are soldiers in arms. Ancient warrior queens bedded with her soldiers to foster a strong relationship with them. Nothing says you can't do the same." Aaron watched Lille as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her face turned bright red.
"I'm not... it's not like... never mind." Lille pressed her hands against her face with a groan. "Just stop saying that you belong to me. It makes it sound like you're not a person."
"I'm not. I'm a demon inhabiting the body of a warrior you defeated." Aaron shrugged again. "If you wanted me as a lover, it'd be a different dynamic but within your purview if it suits your desires better."
"Ack. No. You're not helping. Listen, let's just... I'm exhausted and the drugs are still messing with me." Lille huffed, running a hand over her braid. "We'll talk about this more when I wake up. We'll have to figure out papers and an identity for you later."